South Australia will ban the use of opera house style yabby nets, effective from 1 July 2023 to further protect platypus and other animals at risk from the use of the nets.
The ban follows extensive research and consultation with the key recreational fishing stakeholder groups.
It will also bring consistency for fishers travelling between states as the ban will put South Australia in line with most other states – Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania – who have already banned the nets. Queensland allows use of the nets only in limited areas, where platypus or at-risk animals are not located.
Opera-house style nets pose a significant threat to air-breathing aquatic animals such as platypus, freshwater turtles and rakali (water rats).
The ban impacts all fishers – both recreational and commercial.
Fishers will still be able to use pyramid nets for yabby fishing, allowing people across South Australia to fish for yabbies without the need to change gear.
For further information on the ban of opera house nets and advice on permitted yabbying devices in South Australia see Permitted fishing gear.